On August 25, 1991, a Cessna 152 (registration N320SV) operated by John M. Wells was involved in an aviation accident near Avalon, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND SUBSEQUENT DITCHING WHILE FLYING OVER THE OCEAN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Cessna 152 pilot ditched in the ocean after a loss of engine power at 2,500 feet while en route to Avalon, California. The aircraft sank and was not recovered.
Accident Summary
A Cessna 152 experienced a loss of engine power at 2,500 feet MSL while traveling to Avalon, California. The pilot subsequently ditched the airplane in the ocean. The aircraft sank in deep water and could not be recovered.
Attempted Restart
The pilot reported that efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The exact cause of the power loss was not determined as the airplane was not recovered.
Fueling History
The airplane had been refueled with 10 gallons of aviation fuel approximately two weeks prior to the accident. It had been airborne for about 15 minutes at the time of the engine power loss.